xp_olaris: (Culinary Technician)
Lorna Summers ([personal profile] xp_olaris) wrote2007-03-12 01:06 pm

Menu update for dinner

I know that I promised you all mini-pizza but I'm afraid there's been a slight change in plans. We're actually having souffle. In the spirit of openness, I thought I'd share with you my mentor's favorite recipe. Marcel used to make this whenever he was feeling impressive.




1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, for greasing the souffle dish, plus additional 1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 pinch cayenne pepper
6 eggs, separated, plus 2 egg whites
2 cups grated Gruyere
1/4 cup finely chopped chives

Remove the top oven rack and place a rack on the bottom 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Create a parchment paper or aluminum foil collar for the souffle dish; the collar should measure about 2 inches above the top of the dish. Grease the souffle dish and collar separately with 1/4 cup softened butter. Dust the inside of the dish and the collar with 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Reserve any leftover cheese for sprinkling on top of the souffle. Secure the collar to the outside of the dish with butcher's twine.

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes, making sure it doesn't brown. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth, and continue stirring for about 4 to 5 minutes to form a bechamel sauce; the bechamel sauce should be very thick. Remove from the heat and add the salt, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.

Beat the 6 egg yolks 1 at a time into the hot bechamel sauce until fully incorporated. Stir in the Gruyere and chives. Set aside.

Place the 8 egg whites in an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the souffle base. Fold in the remaining egg whites, being careful not to over mix. Gently spoon the mixture into the souffle mold and bake for 45 minutes, or when a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the souffle comes out clean. Minimize opening and closing the oven door. Serve immediately sprinkled with reserved cheese.

[identity profile] x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
What the hell is kosher salt, anyway? How can salt not be kosher? Unless it's mixed with pig lard . . .

[identity profile] x-polarisstar.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The granules are bigger and there are no additives like iodine. It's just easier to cook with and it tastes better.

[identity profile] x-wildchild.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
THAT'S what I was smelling? Sam had to get my attention like, six times in class because I kept trying to figure out what it was that I smelled.

Gruyere's a cheese, right? I know Parmesean is, but Gruyere is too, right?

[identity profile] x-polarisstar.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, Kyle. Gruyere is cheese.

[identity profile] x-wildchild.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent.

Hey, what do you know about blue cheese stuffed olives? Because when I googled for Gruyere, I got that as like, one of those ads, and ... ew?

[identity profile] x-polarisstar.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
What do I know? Why I could tell you stories about stuffed olives that would make your hair stand on end...

They're good. Extremely fattening though. I never eat them.

[identity profile] x-wildchild.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
They sound like they'd be stinky to me...

[identity profile] x-polarisstar.livejournal.com 2007-03-12 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, it's blue cheese, that's a given.